Finally, a book that explains everything you ever wanted to know about psychiatry!

In Shrink Rap, three psychiatrists from different specialties provide frank answers to questions such as:

• What is psychotherapy, how does it work, and why don't all psychiatrists do it?• When are medications helpful?• What happens on a psychiatric unit?• Can Prozac make people suicidal?• Why do many doctors not like Xanax?• Why do we have an insanity defense?• Why do people confess to crimes they didn't commit?

Based on the authors’ hugely popular blog and podcast series, this book is for patients and everyone else who is curious about how psychiatrists work. Using compelling patient vignettes, Shrink Rap explains how psychiatrists think about and address the problems they encounter, from the mundane (how much to charge) to the controversial (involuntary hospitalization). The authors face the field’s shortcomings head-on, revealing what other doctors may not admit about practicing psychiatry.

Candid and humorous, Shrink Rap gives a closeup view of psychiatry, peering into technology, treatments, and the business of the field. If you've ever wondered how psychiatry really works, let the Shrink Rappers explain.

Dinah Miller, M.D., a psychiatrist and writer, is in private practice and is a consulting psychiatrist for the Johns Hopkins Hospital Community Psychiatry Program. Annette Hanson, M.D., is a forensic psychiatrist with appointments at the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins Hospital. Steven Roy Daviss, M.D., also on the faculty at the University of Maryland, is a hospital-based psychiatrist and medical informatician and is chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Baltimore Washington Medical Center. All three created Shrink Rap, a blog by psychiatrists for psychiatrists, and My Three Shrinks, a podcast series about psychiatry.

"It’s a fascinating peek into the minds of those who study minds."

— Rachel Saslow - Washington Post

"[Shrink Rap], the 'straight-talking guide to psychiatric care'... Although they explain psychiatry in all its merits and failings, acknowledging the limitations of their field, these are clearly three shrinks who love their jobs."

— Kristen Intlekofer - Johns Hopkins Magazine

"An intriguing read."

— Midwest Book Review

"The public should have a general understanding of important illnesses as well as the relative roles of patients, clinicians, and the economic, medical and political environments in treating them. It would make the discussion of healthcare reform a great deal more meaningful. This edition of Shrink Rap is an excellent beginning.The bottom line: if you or anyone you know has any interest in the world of psychiatry, do them a favor and have them ' Shrink Rapped'. It's a very worthwhile read."

— Dr. Doug Perednia - Road to Hellth

"Most of us easily understand how to treat a broken arm, but a fractured psyche? That's an entirely different matter. Or is it? This clear-headed presentation of psychiatric services and methods covers a lot of ground and achieves a conversational tone that's both educational and entertaining."

— John Lewis - Baltimore Magazine

"While topics are addressed soundly for the professional reader, the authors’ optimism and humor consistently shine through, creating an informative and entertaining resource for patients and families"

— Margaret S. Chisolm - International Review of Psychiatry

"One of the most useful books I’ve read about mental illnesses—and as the father of a son with a severe mental disorder, I’ve read just about all of them. It demystifies our complicated medical and legal system, explaining everything from 'chemical imbalances' to involuntary commitment procedures to the most recent advances in brain mapping. If you have a mental disorder, love someone who has one, or are a doctor, therapist, social worker, lawyer, judge, or criminal justice professional, you need to read this book."

— Pete Earley, New York Times bestselling author of CRAZY: A Father’s Search through America’s Mental Health Madness

"In the too-often confusing and fractured world of mental health services, Shrink Rap is a ready resource for patients and their families looking for more insight into the range of services available and how they are delivered."